Project by @Blobbystickfigure quick mention the definitions in this project were written a few months ago so they may be a little bit inaccurate or a little bit odd. What is Shifting? Shifting is the process of shifting from a human mindset or feeling to a more animal one. (Senses, mentally etc.) Not all kin shift, but I see a lot who do. Otherhearted people and fictionkin can also shift, and shifting isn’t exclusive to therianthropy or otherkinnity, as non-kin can shift too (Including otherlinkers!) There are several categories of shifts, like mental, phantom, aura, bi-location, physical, sensory, perception, envisage, beserk/feral, cameo and dream. Mental shifts are where you shift into a more animalistic mindset, you could act more instinctually, be more flighty, feel stronger urges to do animalistic things like hiss, snarl, bark or bite. Mental shifts do NOT cause full memory loss or loss of control you are still in control of you. Your memory could be fuzzy, and your judgment could be affected, but you should still be able to fully control yourself. (Read the berserk/feral shift section.) Phantom shifts are where you acquire ears, tails or otherwise body parts that do not exist. You can feel them, and they can range from completely life like to just a sensation at the base of the appendage. (Please do not use the term Phantom Limbs. It has actually been discussed with people who suffer from PLS (Phantom limb syndrome, which can be common in amputees.) and it is not something they want used in the therian/otherkin community.) For me, as a person with frequent phantom shifts, they feel like a little weighted sensation at the base of where they would sit on me. Like, a little heavy feeling on my head or a pressure sensation on my tail bone. I can generally feel their outlines too. The shortened form of Phantom Shifts is Ph-shifting An aura shift is where your aura changes to that of your kintype. I unfortunately do not know much about this kind of shift. ‘[An aura shift] occurs when your shape or form of an auric field or life energy field changes to that of the theriotype. This is a spiritual related shift that it requires the belief in auras which are considered paranormal.’ - sourced from offsite, via therian territory. The shortened form of this shift is ‘Au-shifting’ I believe. A bi-locational shift apparently occurs when a Therianthrope appears in two locations simultaneously, with the double appearing in the form of the therioside, however lately I’ve heard the definition be more of ‘they feel like theyre in the same place as their kintype.’ Rather than ‘me and my kintype are at the same place at the same time.’ The shortened form of this shift is ‘Bi-shifting’ I believe. A physical shift is an impossible and unachievable shift where your physical body transforms into your kintype, like a human would when theyre a werewolf. People who claim they can physical shift are either under a delusion for various reasons (psychosis or mental health issues) or people who scheme to cheat you out of money if they offer for you to learn how to physical shift. The shortened form of this shift is ‘P-shifting’ (Try not to get it confused with Ph-shifting!) Sensory shifts are where your shifts seem to change to be more like your kintype. Your senses don’t actually heighten, but you get an increased awareness of them. This can be very overstimulating for people. (myself included lol) For example, your sense of hearing could feel heightened and noises could be much louder, or much more defined. Or your sense of smell could ‘increase’ and you could smell things that are further away or you didnt notice before, like your mom’s chicken pot pie she had in the oven that you didnt think you could smell from your room upstairs. Perception shifts are where you perceive things more like your kintype. Like, imagine you go to eat dinner and your dad hands you a fork. You stare at the fork and wonder ‘what the heck is this why cant I just eat with my mouth and paws’ before remembering ‘oh- im human im supposed to use this.’ Or being confused on why some things are they way they are, like why we have school or do homework, or cook food. Envisage, or self-image shifts, are where your mental image of yourself changes to be of your kintype. Think of yourself right now. Do you see an animal or your kintype sitting in your same position? Or do you see a human being? During an Envisage shift, you’ll see your kintype. Cameoshifts are where you shift of another animal that isn’t your kintype, like youre an otter therian but get a house cat shift. You don’t identify as house cat, nor does it feel right to, but you shifted as one. V
Beserk/Feral shifts are often seen as controversial and an unhealthy behaviour. These shifts include strong emotions such as anger that pushes away the human side, including human empathy and logical decision making. It is generally not supported by the Therian community due to its dangerous nature. It is seemingly very rarely experienced by anyone in the Therian community, and thus rarely discussed. (Sourced from Therian wiki.) Feral shifts seem to also incorporate memory loss and total loss of control of oneself. Feral shifting is not seen as a healthy shift in the therian community and it is generally advised to seek therapy or other forms of help to get your shifting under control, especially if your shifts impair or cause harm to you or others. Finally, Dream shifts are shifts where you become your kintype in your dreams. Like, youre a red fox therian and you are dreaming about being a fox. Dream shifts generally aren’t good ways to find your kintype, though they can be fun. The brain is very very suggestive, so again, don’t base all your kintype suspicions on a dream or two. Hope this helps! Sorry it was so long! Theres so much in shifting to cover!
